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Prince Andrew is surrendering his titles, including the the Duke, he has stated in a personal statement.

He has been under mounting pressure over his connections with disgraced financier Epstein, with requests for the Palace to take action against him.

That now seems to have caused the figure deciding to voluntarily hand back his designations and to relinquish involvement of the Garter Order.

In his announcement he said he continued to "strongly deny the accusations against me".

"In discussion with the King, and my close and broader family, we have decided the persistent claims about me take away from the responsibilities of the King and the Royal Family," said a announcement from Prince Andrew.

"I have opted, as I always have, to put my duty to my family and nation first.

"I support my decision five years ago to withdraw from official duties.

"With the King's approval, we feel I must now go a additional measure. I will therefore no longer employ my honor or the honours which have been bestowed on me. As I have said earlier, I vigorously refute the accusations against me."

Prince Andrew has faced a range of issues, including a lawsuit he resolved with an accuser, inquiries about his finances and his association with an accused Chinese spy.

He will stay a royal - but will stop to be the the Duke, a honor bestowed from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth.

He had already ended to be a "participating figure" and had forfeited the use of his royal style and no longer participated at public engagements. His role now will be even more reduced.

His ex-wife will be known as Ferguson and no longer York's Duchess, but their offspring will carry on to have the honor of princess.

He has faced strong attention over his associations with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, more recently featuring questions about when he had truly cut off contact.

In his BBC Newsnight interview, he had said that he had ended all links with Epstein after they had been seen together in New York in late 2010.

But emails sent in February 2011 later emerged suggesting that Andrew had confidentially continued in contact with Epstein, such as exchanging a communication: "Keep in close touch and we'll meet again soon!"

There had been growing frustration in the royal household at the scandals that persisted to plague the royal.

In the coming days a posthumous memoir by the accuser will be issued which is anticipated to bring more scrutiny on the royal's connection with Virginia Giuffre and Epstein.